Why do you love to play softball? “I love to play softball because I love to compete and do what I enjoy, which is putting everything I have behind the plate or up to bat to help my team win. Ever since I was little, I loved the game and that love continues today.”

Helena Coppola

Uniform #: 4

Hometown: Lincroft

Helena Coppola

High School: St. John Vianney

Nickname: “H”

Grade: 10

Age: 16

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Left field, right field

Possible career interest(s): Business

Favorite college team: University of Tennessee

Favorite college player: Jackie Traina (Alabama)

Favorite movie(s): The Great Gatsby

Favorite book(s): The Fault in Our Stars

Favorite music artist(s): Luke Bryan, Iggy

What are your hobbies? Softball, hanging out with friend, going to the beach

Why do you love to play softball? “I love playing with my teammates and it’s always fun to be on the field.”

Hadassah Curry

Uniform #: 77

Hometown: Matawan

Hadassah Curry

High School: Matawan

Nickname: “Das”

Grade: 10

Age: 16

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Third base, first base

Possible career interest(s): Media entertainment, sports management

Favorite college team(s): University of Georgia, University of Florida, University of Louisiana-Lafayette

Favorite music artist(s): John Mayer, Lecrae, Kirk Franklin, All American Rejects

What are your hobbies? Play the guitar, watch college softball, film in-school/after-school sports

Why do you love to play softball? “I’m very passionate about the sport. I love the atmosphere, the game and the opportunities to play it. I love to hit, and I’m quite determined to hit off the pitchers I face. I also love the aggressiveness of the game.”

Julia DiGiorgio

Uniform #: 1

Hometown: Atlantic Highlands

Julia DiGiorgio

High School: Henry Hudson

Nickname: “Ju”

Grade: 11

Age: 17

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Third base, shortstop

Possible career interest(s): Social work

Favorite college team: University of Oklahoma

Favorite college player: Lauren Chamberlain (Oklahoma)

Favorite movie(s): A Walk to Remember

Favorite book(s): The Fault in Our Stars

Favorite music artist(s): Anything Country

What are your hobbies? Playing softball and field hockey

Why do you love to play softball? “I grew up playing softball as a child, and it was something I always looked forward to doing.”

Paige Eckert

Uniform #: 24

Hometown: Howell

Paige Eckert

High School: Howell

Nickname: “Paigey”

Grade: 10

Age: 15

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Second base, third base

Possible career interest(s): Teacher

Favorite college team: University of Alabama

Favorite college player: Jackie Traina (Alabama)

Favorite movie(s): Kicking and Screaming

Favorite book(s): The Fault in Our Stars

Favorite music artist(s): Bruno Mars

What are your hobbies? Longboarding

Why do you love to play softball? “I get to be and play with my friends.”

Annie Flego

Uniform #: 8

Hometown: Little Silver

Annie Flego

High School: Red Bank Catholic

Nickname: “Chop”

Grade: 10

Age: 16

Bats: Both

Throws: Right

Position(s): Outfield, middle infield

Possible career interest(s): Sports broadcasting

Favorite college team: University of Alabama

Favorite college player: Marie Flego (Providence)

Favorite movie(s): Harry Potter

Favorite book(s): Harry Potter

Favorite music artist(s): Luke Bryan

What are your hobbies? Playing and watching any sports, mostly hockey and baseball

Why do you love to play softball? “Everyone in my family always played softball and baseball, and I always went to all my sister’s games. So, I always knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Stephanie Healy

Uniform #: 21

Hometown: Tuckerton

Stephanie Healy

High School: Pinelands

Nickname: “Heals”

Grade: 11

Age: 17

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Catcher, third base

Favorite college team: University of Alabama

Favorite movie(s): 22 Jump Street

Favorite book(s): The Fault in Our Stars

Favorite music artist(s): Drake

What are your hobbies? Hanging out with friends, going to the beach

Why do you love to play softball? “It’s fun and I’m good at it.”

Jessica McDonaugh

Uniform #: 2

Hometown: Brick

Jessica McDonaugh

High School: Brick Township

Nickname: “Jess”

Grade: 11

Age: 17

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Position(s): First base, outfield

Possible career interest(s): Education

Favorite college team: Florida State University

Favorite college player: Jackie Traina (Alabama)

Favorite movie(s): 21 Jump Street

Favorite book(s): At First Sight

Favorite music artist(s): Eminem

What are your hobbies? Playing softball

Why do you love to play softball? “It’s fun.”

Kelcy McGeehan

Uniform #: 11

Hometown: Bayville

Kelcy McGeehan

High School: Monsignor Donovan

Nickname: “K” or “Kel”

Grade: 11

Age: 17

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Shortstop, second base, outfield

Possible career interest(s): Psychological therapist

Favorite college team: Florida State University

Favorite college player: Lauren Chamberlain (Oklahoma)

Favorite movie(s): Harry Potter

Favorite book(s): Harry Potter

Favorite music artist(s): Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, anything Country

What are your hobbies? Playing basketball

Why do you love to play softball? “It’s fun and I met my best friend through it.”

Madelyn McMahon

Uniform #: 12

Hometown: Middletown

Madelyn McMahon

High School: Middletown South

Nickname: “Maddie”

Grade: 10

Age: 16

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Pitcher

Possible career interest(s): Undecided

Favorite college team: Florida State University

Favorite college player: Jackie Traina (Alabama)

Favorite movie(s): Pitch Perfect

Favorite book(s): The Hunger Games

Favorite music artist(s): Luke Bryan

What are your hobbies? Playing softball and field hockey

Why do you love to play softball? “It’s a great game and it never fails to put me in a good mood.”

Why do you love to play softball? “I love it because of the friends I’ve made through playing the sport.”

Shakyra Moore

Uniform #: 22

Hometown: Brielle

Shakyra Moore

High School: Manasquan

Nickname: “Shaq”

Grade: 10

Age: 16

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Third base

Possible career interest(s): Pre-K teacher

Favorite college team: University of Florida

Favorite college player: Lauren Chamberlain (Oklahoma)

Favorite movie(s): Haunted House, Bad Grandpa

Favorite book(s): Heaven is for Real, Waking Up in Heaven

Favorite music artist(s): Iggy, Katy Perry, Paramore

What are your hobbies? Playing softball, eating

Why do you love to play softball? “I love playing because of all the friends I’ve made through the sport.”

Stephanie Pepper

Uniform #: 15

Hometown: Seaside Heights

Stephanie Pepper

High School: Central

Nickname: “Pep” or “Pepper”

Grade: 11

Age: 17

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Pitcher, first base, outfield

Possible career interest(s): Business, politics

Favorite college team: Florida State University

Favorite college player: Lacey Waldrop (Florida State)

Favorite movie(s): Harry Potter

Favorite book(s): Harry Potter, The Kite Runner

Favorite music artist(s): One Republic

What are your hobbies? Playing field hockey and softball, singing

Why do you love to play softball? “It’s a lot of fun and I met my best friend through playing the sport.”

Kristen Ruggiero

Uniform #: 3

Hometown: Manalapan

Kristen Ruggiero

High School: Manalapan

Nickname: “K-Ruggs”

Grade: 10

Age: 16

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Infield, outfield, pitcher

Favorite college team: University of Alabama

Favorite college player: Christina Hamilton (Louisiana-Lafayette)

Favorite movie(s): Mean Girls, The Benchwarmers

Favorite book(s): To Kill a Mockingbird

Favorite music artist(s): One Direction

What are your hobbies? Playing softball, spending time with family, making bows

Why do you love to play softball? “I love to play softball because it’s more than just a game. It teaches you lessons on and off the field.”

Naomi Stas

Uniform #: 5

Hometown: Tuckerton

Naomi Stas

High School: Pinelands

Nickname: “Nay”

Grade: 11

Age: 17

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position(s): Pitcher, utility

Possible career interest(s): Undecided

Favorite movie(s): Pirates of the Caribbean

Favorite book(s): The Compound

Favorite music artist(s): Paramore, Red Hot Chili Peppers

What are your hobbies? Playing basketball and softball, going to the beach

Why do you love to play softball? “It’s fun and a stress reliever.”

The Coaches

Aado Kommendant

Nickname: “Coach K” or “The King of RRsb”

High School Affiliate: Raritan

Aado Kommendant

Years of Coaching Experience: 20 years, with a two-year break to pursue my dream of being a medication delivery driver

Pet Peeves as a Coach: Coaches who call too many conferences

Favorite movie(s): Miracle, High Noon, Coming to America

Favorite book(s): The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

Favorite music artist(s): Living Colour, R.E.M., Neon Trees

Why do you love to coach softball? “I love to coach softball because it keeps me out of trouble and because it gets me into trouble.”

Who were/are your mentors and what’s the best advice any of them gave you? “In addition to Mark Frankel, Nancy Williams and Tom Erbig, my mentor early in my coaching career was Jerry D’Ambrosi, who once told me that a bad plan is better than no plan.”

Nora Bosmans

Nickname: “Bos”

High School Affiliate: Holmdel

Nora Bosmans

Years of Coaching Experience: 3 years

Pet Peeves as a Coach: Laziness and when players don’t play disciplined softball

Favorite movie(s): Forrest Gump, Remember the Titans, The Blind Side

Favorite book(s): Lord of the Flies, Tuesdays with Morrie, To Kill a Mockingbird

Favorite music artist(s): Zac Brown Band, Beyonce

Why do you love to coach softball? “I love to watch players develop and mature, not only as softball players, but also as people. I find it incredibly rewarding to see a player finally perfect a skill they have been working on throughout the season. I also really enjoy the mental aspect of softball. Not many people realize the strategy behind the game and I find that to be extremely fun. There is nothing better than outsmarting and outplaying an opponent.”

Who were/are your mentors and what’s the best advice any of them gave you? “Greg Kapalko coached me during my entire high school career while I played for his travel team, The Jaxx, and he continues to mentor me during my coaching career. I have learned so much about the game from Greg, and he is always there to point out mistakes so you can fix them in the future. I don’t think I can really pinpoint one piece of advice he has given me, because he has provided me with so many valuable lessons along the way.”

Zoe Otterman

Nickname: None

High School Affiliate: St. John Vianney (2012 graduate)

Zoe Otterman

Years of Coaching Experience: None, but I did play on the Carpenter Cup team in 2010 and 2011

Pet Peeves as a Coach: When players are late for practice (arriving on time means you are late); When players, coaches, or parents blame the umpire for a loss; When players say “It’s hot out!” (Thank you, are you planning on pursuing a career in meteorology?)

Why do you love to coach softball? “I love to compete and help fulfill the hopes and dreams of all of the players in the Shore Conference (and win the Carpenter Cup). I was honored when Coach K asked me to be on the staff, because I hope to encourage and assist him and Nora (Bosmans) in any way possible so that we can bring the Carpenter Cup back to its rightful owner.”

Who were/are your mentors and what’s the best advice any of them gave you? “Kim Lombardi, Dawn Karpell, Tony Vodola, Coach K, Greg Kapalko, Rich Streilein, MaryBeth Chambers-Bowle and Eric Kates … I have been fortunate to win championships with all of these well-respected coaches, and so I would like to think that I utilize the amazing advice that they all have given me.”

When softball practice began in early March, Ashley Ventura wasn’t slated to be St. John Vianney’s No. 1 starter in the pitcher’s circle this spring.

SJV pitcherAshley Ventura

However, Ventura received the biggest opportunity of her career due to the unfortunate loss of senior Katie Beriont, who tore an ACL during the basketball state tournament and was declared out for the season.

“It was emotionally hard for me because Katie couldn’t play,” said Ventura, the Asbury Park Press All-Shore Softball Player of the Year. “She told me about not being able to play at lunch the day after she saw the doctor, and I didn’t want to believe it. I know if I were in her shoes, I’d be devastated.

“But she told me it was my time, and I just had to go out there, give it my all and do this for my team.”

After playing most of last season at first base, and planning to play much of this season at the same position, Ventura suddenly was thrust into the spotlight — with lots of questions to come along with it, the biggest being whether the Lancers would be as dominant in the Shore Conference as they had been with Beriont in the circle.

“At one point during the preseason, Ashley and I were talking, and she said, ‘I think teams look at me and think they can beat us,’ and I had to remind her how good she was,” said Vianney coach Kim Lombardi. “I said, ‘Ash, you know how much I love Katie, but Katie’s time was the last three years. Now it’s your time. We trust you and love you, and we need you to guide us and take us through all this.’

“She never looked back.”

And the questions ended fairly quickly. Ventura led the Lancers to 19 straight victories, including an 11-game shutout streak, during which they had allowed just six runs.

Ventura pitched every inning this spring, finishing 26-2 with 20 shutouts and a 0.45 ERA. She gave up 11 earned runs, struck out 205 and walked just 14 batters. She also fired four perfect games.

“I really didn’t feel any pressure,” Ventura said. “We still had a great defense. I knew we were going to score runs. I just had to throw my best pitches, hit my spots and trust Coach Kim with what she was calling. And once we got into a groove, we were locked in and I knew then that we’d win a lot of games.”

Lombardi said Ventura’s trust in her was a key factor in the junior pitcher’s success.

“Early on, as I saw her pitching and getting better with each game, I figured out which ones were her best pitches and when we could use them,” Lombardi said. “And whatever pitch I called, she believed it was the right pitch. Ashley definitely rose to the challenge.”

Behind Ventura, the Lancers went undefeated in Class A South, and captured the Monmouth County and Shore Conference Tournament crowns. However, one pitch that just missed its precise spot ended up over the fence against Immaculata in the NJSIAA Non-Public South A final and the Lancers fell short of the other goal for the season — playing for another state title.

“We worked so hard and had overcome so much, to fall short at the end really stunk,” Ventura said. “My goal was to pitch my team to a state championship, so now I’ll be hungry for that next year.”

By season’s end, the powerful and intelligent Ventura had proven that she indeed was as dominating as Beriont, who was there to give Ventura a hug after she shut out Pinelands for the SCT title.

“Katie was always there for me, and it meant a lot that she believed in me,” said Ventura, who recently committed to play at St. Joseph University following her senior year. “Not everything was easy this season, and I didn’t want it to be, because that takes the fun out of the game. But it was a lot of fun to lead my team to some championships, and I’m already counting down the days to next season.”

NOTE: While I was not asked to come up with it, I felt an honorable-mention list might provide a more complete look at just how much talent resided within the Shore Conference this season. And while the players listed here are in no particular order, I thought it would be a good thing to share this list of players who were considered for any one of the second- and third-team positions but, for one reason or another, just missed the cut. Trust me, selecting this team isn’t easy and it takes weeks to sort it all out, but it has to be done. Still, there are many deserving players who should be recognized beyond the ones who landed a position on either of the first three teams, so here you go …

Well, it’s that time of year … Graduation time. And I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize the Shore Conference’s softball seniors who are headed to college or, perhaps, the military. Thanks to all of you who put in a lot of hard work during your high school softball careers and were dedicated and committed to your teammates and programs to the end. Congratulations and best wishes to each of you as you move ahead into your next chapters of life! – David Biggy

NOTE: While all coaches responded to our request for a list of their softball teams’ seniors and where they were going, several players were undecided at the time the information was submitted, or a team may not have had any seniors graduating. The information provided here is all we had received prior our stated deadline to receive it, which was Friday, June 6.

Tryouts for the Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team will be held at Rash Field in Wall from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Rash Field is located at 2000 Highway 71 in Wall.

Interested Shore Conference players from grades 10 and 11 must attend at least one of the two tryout sessions to be considered for the squad. All players should wear a shirt from their respective high school teams.

The Carpenter Cup will be played in Philadelphia from June 23-26, and only player candidates who can commit for the entire tournament will be selected for the team. Once the team is solidified, practices will be held on June 16 and 18, with a game against Carpenter Cup alumni on June 19.

An interested player with school conflicts during Carpenter Cup can receive correspondence from Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team officials requesting assistance in rescheduling exams and allowing her to represent the Shore Conference in Philadelphia.

Those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team manager Aado Kommendant via email at akommendant@hazlet.org.

The 2014 Carpenter Cup softball tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 23, in Philadelphia, and the selection process for the Jersey Shore squad will be announced soon, according to Aado Kommendant, Raritan High School’s head coach who manages the Carpenter Cup team.

Open to high school juniors and sophomores seeking additional exposure to college scouts, the Carpenter Cup is a tournament sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies. Teams representing 16 regions from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware compete in a double-elimination format, during which all games are played in Philadelphia at FDR Park.

The Jersey Shore squad is scheduled to open tournament play on June 23 at 11 a.m. against Delaware South. Jersey Shore has won the tournament twice, in 2007 and 2010.

The Carpenter Cup is a stand-alone tournament, and there is no further commitment required beyond it. Kommendant said last year’s cost per player was about $30.

For more information about the Carpenter Cup, visit online at http://mlb.mlb.com/phi/community/softball_carpenter_cup.jsp, and for updates regarding the Jersey Shore squad selection, follow on Twitter @JSCarpCupSB.

WALL – With nothing else to play for this season, St. John Vianney made sure it went out with a bang Wednesday and sent off its seniors on a high note.

St. John Vianney pitcher Ashley Ventura jumps into the arms of catcher Michelle King after the Lancers won the Shore Conference Tournament championship with a 12-0 victory over Pinelands.

The bang and high note came at the expense of Pinelands in the Shore Conference Tournament championship, as the No. 1 Lancers capitalized on errors during the first two innings and finished off the No. 3 Wildcats with a hitting barrage in the fourth en route to a 12-0 win.

“We had nothing to lose,” said senior third baseman Marlena Bevilacqua. “We had to put yesterday behind us and end on a high note, especially for the seniors.”

On Tuesday, the Lancers (26-2) dropped a 3-0 game to Immaculata in the NJSIAA Non-Public South A final, falling short of a shot at the Non-Public A championship. But on Wednesday, they struck first and took control immediately.

“We definitely came into the game with the attitude that we couldn’t end the season with two losses,” said winning pitcher Ashley Ventura, who struck out two but faced only 18 batters and allowed two balls into the outfield. “We would have loved to be playing Saturday (in the state final), but since we aren’t we wanted to end on a good note.”

SJV’s Kate Baron safely slides into home.

With two outs and Demi Rivera, running for Ventura, who had hit into a fielder’s choice following a walk to Helena Coppola, on first, Kate Baron reached on an error, as did Michelle King, allowing Rivera to score the Lancers’ first run. Jessica Carlucci then singled to left to bring in Baron, and Gianna Mavica singled to center to score Victoria Mahoney, running for King.

In the second, Bevilacqua hit a leadoff single, stole second and went to third on a groundout off the bat of Jackie Gallagher, but three errors on balls hit by Coppola, Ventura and King led to three more runs and a 6-0 lead.

“We had to play sharp and we didn’t,” said Pinelands coach Keith Lowe, whose team finished 27-4. “When you extend innings against good teams, they’re going to hurt you.”

In the top of the fourth, the Lancers drove the dagger into the Wildcats’ hearts.

Ventura walked with one out and Rivera, again running for Ventura, went to second on a wild pitch, Baron drilled a ball into left field to make it 7-0. After Lowe brought in Emma Neuweiler to relieve starter Naomi Stas in the circle, Carlucci came to the plate with two outs and smashed a line drive over the left-center fence to make it 9-0.

Shortstop Jackie Gallagher snags a soft pop on the run.

Mavica then singled to center and an error on a mishandled ball put her on second, before Megan Masi walked and Bevilacqua loaded the bases with an infield hit. Gallagher, who had gone 0-for-3 to that point, was down in the count before coach Kim Lombardi called her down the third-base line for a brief conference.

“She said, ‘You deserve this hit. So keep your head down and hit it,’ ” Gallagher said. “I knew it was my last time up, so I had to focus.”

Gallagher lined the ball to center to score Mavica and Masi, increasing the lead to 11-0, before Coppola capped the scoring with a single to left to bring in Bevilacqua.

“We had to win our last game,” Gallagher said. “We weren’t thinking 12-0, but we weren’t walking off this field without a win.”

After graduating four key starters last season, the plan for Mater Dei this season was to win some games, make a dent in a couple of the tournaments along the way and give a relatively young team more experience heading toward next year.

On Wednesday, the No. 5 Seraphs were playing for an NJSIAA Non-Public South B title.

“We’re far above where I expected us to be this season,” said coach Jeanne Dickinson, whose squad lost a 2-1 contest to No. 2 St. Joseph of Hammonton. “I told the girls beforehand that we were going in this game with house money. We had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

The Wildcats (14-11) scored twice in the second on a one-out, RBI single to right field by Alyssa Holt and a two-out, RBI single to center by Cara Owsley, and from there winning pitcher Taylor Sirolli kept the Seraphs in check.

“I spent two days trying to prepare our kids for their ace pitcher, Dominique D’Andrea, and their coach did a great job by throwing their other pitcher,” Dickinson said. “We were totally off balance. We played big when we needed to and stayed in the game, but it was frustrating.”

Mater Dei (15-6) scored in the sixth when Tyrah Graves walked, Emilie Boman reached on an error, Maggie Klatt hit into a fielder’s choice to send Graves to third and she scored on a groundout off the bat of pitcher Paige Fernandez. Boman and Klatt had the Seraphs’ only hits — singles to center in the first and left in the fourth, respectively.

About this Blog

The No. 1 source for scores, news, notes, discussion and more for Shore Conference baseball and softball.

About the Author

Chris RotoloChris Rotolo graduated from The College Of New Jersey in May of 2011 and has been working in the Asbury Park Press' Sports Department since September of 2010 covering BlueClaws Baseball, Ice Hockey, Track & Field, and Cross Country, Tennis, and more. Follow along on Twitter: @rote7123E-mail Chris

David BiggyPart of the Asbury Park Press family since 1999, originally with the Ocean County Observer, David Biggy was brought to Neptune as a sports features writer in August 2010. Follow David on Twitter @BiggyAPP.E-mail David

Steve FalkSteve Falk has been a high school football writer at APP for a year. Previously, he was at the Ocean County Observer for 18 seasons.E-mail Steve